Channel allocation method in wireless mesh network and communication device using the method

ABSTRACT

A channel allocation method and a communication device are provided. The channel allocation method includes determining a communication device type based on information received from neighboring communication devices, allocating a channel according to the communication device type, and transmitting the communication device type and information about the allocated channel to the neighboring communication devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/878,358 filed on Jul. 24, 2007, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0006739, filedon Jan. 22, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The following description relates to a wireless mesh network. Moreparticularly, the following description relates to a channel allocationmethod in a wireless mesh network and a communication device using themethod. The method and device operate to enhance the efficiency of thewireless mesh network.

Description of Related Art

Generally, a wireless mesh network does not start out as such. Instead,wireless mesh network technology is technology which interoperates overvarious existing wireless connection technologies which are already inwide usage, and which provides users with a number of solutions toexisting problems. Wireless mesh network technology shares many of thesame advantages as those of other ad-hoc networks, such asself-configuring and self-healing. As a result, wireless mesh networktechnology can quickly build a network at a low cost. For these andother reasons, wireless mesh network technology has become very popular.

In comparison with methods such as point-to-point communications andpoint-to-multipoint communications used in existing wirelesscommunications, wireless mesh network technology has several advantages,including reliable expandability of a wireless network, as well asrequiring fewer outputs, since a wireless mesh network also has thenetwork structure of a wired mesh type. Further, wireless mesh networktechnology is useful in various fields such as next generation mobilecommunications, home networking, and special purpose networking forpublic safety. Research has been performed at both the academic and thebusiness level to establish exemplary test bed environments to build anenhanced mesh network.

However, communication devices should periodically overhear, negotiate,and switch a plurality of channels to transmit a data packet in thewireless mesh network since the communication devices share channelsamong communication devices having only a single interface.

Accordingly, there is a need for a channel allocation method in thewireless mesh network which can effectively enhance the efficiency ofthe network using multi channels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following description is provided to address at least the aboveproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the features andaspects described below. Accordingly, general aspects provide a channelallocation method and a communication device which can effectivelyenhance the efficiency of a network using multi-channels by classifyingcommunication devices having a single interface as a fixed communicationdevice or a switching communication device according to a communicationdevice type, and by allocating a channel according to the classifiedcommunication device type.

According to one general aspect, there is provided a channel allocationmethod. The method includes determining a communication device typebased on information received from neighboring communication devices,allocating a channel according to the communication device type, andtransmitting the communication device type and information about theallocated channel to the neighboring communication devices.

According to one general aspect, a communication device is provided. Thedevice includes a type determination unit for determining acommunication device type based on information received from neighboringcommunication devices, a channel allocation unit for allocating achannel according to the determined communication device type, and atransmitting/receiving unit for transmitting information about thedetermined communication device type and the allocated channel to theneighboring communication devices.

Other aspects and features may become apparent to those skilled in theart from the following detailed description, the annexed drawings, andthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and aspects may become will be moreapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram illustrating a wirelessmesh network;

FIG. 2 is an example of a first diagram illustrating a theory ofoperations among communication devices;

FIG. 3 is an example of a second diagram illustrating a theory ofoperations among communication devices;

FIG. 4 is an example of a configuration diagram illustratingcommunication devices for allocating a channel;

FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a channel allocationmethod;

FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method fordetermining a communication device type;

FIG. 7 is an example a diagram illustrating the determining of thecommunication device type;

FIG. 8 is an example a diagram illustrating calculating of a number oflinks;

FIG. 9 is an example a diagram illustrating allocating of a channel;

FIG. 10 is an example a first diagram illustrating a generation of aHELLO message; and

FIG. 11 is an example a second diagram illustrating a generation of theHELLO message.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will beunderstood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed constructionand elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding ofthe embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of theembodiments described herein can be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-knownfunctions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 is an example a configuration diagram illustrating a wirelessmesh network.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wireless mesh network may include aplurality of communication devices covering a wide service area. Each ofthe plurality of communication devices is wirelessly connected to atleast one neighboring communication device, and may relay a data packetin a hop-by-hop basis, similar to a router, with respect to theneighboring communication device.

One general aspect of the wireless mesh network may provide forclassifying the plurality of communication devices configuring thewireless mesh network with device types, such as a fixed communicationdevice or a switching device, according to the possibility of switchinga channel. Specifically, a communication device fixed on a singlechannel may be classified as a fixed communication device, and acommunication device capable of switching the plurality of channels maybe classified as a switching communication device.

In one general aspect, the communication device may include variouselectronic devices such as a personal computer (PC), a notebook, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile terminal.

Hereinafter, in the annexed drawings, the fixed communication devicewill be illustrated as a circle with solid lines, and the switchingcommunication device will be illustrated in a circle with dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an example a first diagram illustrating a theory of operationsamong communication devices.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the communication devices according togeneral aspects, wireless connectivity is guaranteed according to acommunication device type. In one general aspect, A and D may be used asfixed communication devices using a first channel, A and C may be usedas fixed communication devices using a sixth channel, and B and E may beused as switching communication devices using the first or sixthchannels.

Wireless connectivity may be guaranteed between the fixed communicationdevices A and D when the first channel is commonly allocated, andbetween the fixed communication device A and the switching device B whenthe first or sixth channels are commonly allocated. Conversely, wirelessconnectivity may not be guaranteed between the fixed communicationdevices A and C and between the switching communication devices B and Ewhen different channels are allocated between the fixed communicationdevices A and C and between the switching communication devices B and E.

FIG. 3 is an example of a second diagram illustrating a theory ofoperations among communication devices.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, switching communication devices according toone general aspect may transmit a message to neighboring communicationdevices when channels are switched, the message informing theneighboring communication devices that the channels are switched.Hereinafter, it is assumed that a switching communication device B,being connected to a fixed communication device A, switches from thefirst channel to a sixth channel.

The switching communication device B may transmit a LEAVE message to thefixed communication device A, switch from the first channel to the sixthchannel, and transmit a JOIN message to the fixed communication deviceC.

One general aspect of the theory of operations among communicationdevices may provide that the LEAVE and JOIN messages may be broadcastedor unicasted.

FIG. 4 is an example of a configuration diagram illustrating acommunication device to allocate a channel.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the communication device according to onegeneral aspect may include a message generation unit 410, a channelallocation unit 420, a type determination unit 430, and atransmitting/receiving unit 440.

The type determination unit 430 determines a communication device typebased on information received from neighboring communication devices.The channel allocation unit 420 allocates a channel according to thedetermined communication device type. The transmitting/receiving unit440 transmits information about the determined communication device typeand the allocated channel to the neighboring communication devices.

The message generation unit 410 generates a HELLO message to transmitthe generated HELLO message to neighboring communication devices withina range of one hop.

One general aspect of the communication device may provide that theHELLO message is a control message, and may be broadcasted to theneighboring communication devices.

FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a channel allocationmethod.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the channel allocation method according to onegeneral aspect includes operations S510, S520, S530, S540, S550, andS560, operation S510 being an operation for transmitting QUERY messages,operation S520 being an operation for receiving a response message,operation S530 being an operation for determining a communication devicetype, operation S540 being an operation for allocating a channel,operation S550 being an operation for generating a HELLO message, andoperation S560 being an operation for transmitting the HELLO message.

Hereinafter, the channel allocation method according to one generalaspect will be described in detail.

In operation S510, communication devices may transmit QUERY messages toneighboring communication devices when connecting to a wireless meshnetwork. The message generation unit 410 of FIG. 4 generates the QUERYmessage, and the transmitting/receiving unit 440 of FIG. 4 transmits thegenerated QUERY message to the neighboring communication devices.

In operation S520, the transmitting/receiving unit 440 receives responsemessages from the neighboring communication devices in response to thetransmitted QUERY messages, and inputs the received response messages inthe determination unit 430 of FIG. 4.

One general aspect of the channel allocation method may provide that theresponse message may include an ID of the neighboring communicationdevices, a communication device type of the neighboring communicationdevice, an allocated channel of the neighboring communication device, anID associated with a second neighboring communication device of theneighboring communication devices, and an allocated channel of thesecond neighboring communication devices.

Also, in the communication devices, each channel may transmit the QUERYmessage, and receive the response messages according to a Round-Robinmanner to search for a channel, which is used by the second neighboringcommunication devices.

In operation S530, the type determination unit 430 may determine thecommunication device type based on the received response messages. Amethod for the determining of the communication device type will bedescribed by referring to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method fordetermining a communication device type.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the method for determining the communicationdevice type according to one general aspect includes operation S610,S620, S630, S640, S650, and S660, operation S610 being an operation forchecking whether a fixed communication device exists among neighboringcommunication devices, operation S620 being an operation for checkingwhether the subject communication device is in a critical path,operation S630 being an operation for calculating a number of firstlinks, operation S640 being an operation for calculating a number ofsecond links, operation S650 being an operation for comparing the numberof first links with the number of second links, operation S660 being anoperation for determining the subject communication device as aswitching communication device, and operation S670 being an operationfor determining the subject communication device as the fixedcommunication device.

Hereinafter, the method for determining the communication device typeaccording to one general aspect will be described.

In operation S610, the type determination unit 430 of FIG. 4 may checkwhether a fixed communication device exists within a single hop, whichwill be described by referring to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is an example of a diagram illustrating the determining of thecommunication device type.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the type determination unit 430 may determinethe communication device type as a fixed communication device when afixed communication device does not exist among the neighboringcommunication devices. As an example, a communication device 1 maydetermine the communication device N as a fixed communication devicewhen the communication device exclusively has a switching communicationdevice 2 as a neighboring communication device.

In operation S620, the type determination unit 430 of FIG. 4 checkswhether the communication device corresponds to a critical path when afixed communication device exists among the neighboring communicationdevices. Namely, the type determination unit 430 may determine thecommunication device as a fixed communication device when a path whichutilizes the communication device as an intermediate communicationdevice is unique.

One general aspect of the determining of the communication device typemay provide that a critical path may be a path corresponding to at leastone path between two fixed communication devices where a number of hopsof other paths between the two fixed communications devices exceeds thenumber of hops in the critical path by a predetermined number of hops n,from among the at least one path existing between the two fixedcommunication devices.

The reason why the number of hops is limited is to exclude paths whichlowers the efficiency of the wireless mesh network since the other pathsbetween the two fixed communications devices exceeds the number of hopsof the critical path.

When the communication device N has the switching communication device 2and the fixed communication device 3 as neighboring communicationdevices, the communication device N may check whether the communicationdevice N corresponds to the critical path between communication device 3and another fixed communication device since the communication device 3of the neighboring communication devices is a fixed communicationdevice.

One general aspect of the determining of the communication device typemay provide that the critical path corresponds to at least one pathbetween two fixed communication devices where a number of hops of allother paths between the two fixed communication devices exceeds thenumber of hops in the critical path by at least a single hop, from amongthe two of fixed communication devices 1 and 3.

One general aspect of the determining of the communication device typemay provide that a path where the communication device N is anintermediate communication device may correspond to a critical pathsince the number of hops of the path where the communication device Ncorresponds to the intermediate communication device is 3, and a numberof hops of a path where communication devices 4, 5, and 6 areintermediate communication devices is 4, from among the two pathsbetween the fixed communication devices 1 and 3. The type determinationunit 430 may calculate a number of links capable of establishing a linkwith the neighboring communication devices according to thecommunication device type when the communication device is not in acritical path. The type determination unit 430 may calculate a number offirst links capable of establishing a link with the neighboringcommunication devices when a communication device is a fixedcommunication device in operation S630, and may calculate a number ofsecond links capable of establishing a link with the neighboringcommunication devices when a communication device corresponds to aswitching device in operation S640. A theory for the calculating of thenumber of first links and the number of second links will be describedby referring to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is an example of a diagram illustrating a theory for calculatinga number of links.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the type determination unit 430 may calculatea number of first links and second links. When a fixed communicationdevice 1 and switching communication devices 2 and 3 exist and when acommunication device N is determined as a fixed communication device,two first links capable of establishing a link with the neighboringcommunication devices 2 and 3 are calculated since wireless connectivityis guaranteed between the fixed communication device N and the switchingcommunication device 2, and between the fixed communication device N andthe switching communication device 3.

When the fixed communication device 1 and the switching communicationdevices 2 and 3 exist and when the communication device N is determinedas a switching communication device, a single second link capable ofestablishing a link with the neighboring communication device 1 iscalculated since wireless connectivity is guaranteed between theswitching device N and the fixed communication device 1.

In operation S660, the type determination unit 430 may determine thecommunication device as a switching communication device when the numberof established first links which are established when the communicationdevice corresponds to a fixed communication device is equal to or lessthan the number of established second links which are established whenthe communication device corresponds to a switching communicationdevice.

In operation S670, the type determination unit 430 may determine thecommunication device as a fixed communication device when the number offirst links which are established when the communication devicecorresponds to a fixed communication device is greater than the numberof second links which are established when the communication devicecorresponds to a switching communication device.

One general aspect of the determining of the communication device typemay provide that more links may be established since a number of fixedcommunication devices is established to be equal to a number ofswitching communication devices. Therefore, the efficiency of a wirelessmesh network may be enhanced.

In operation S540, the channel allocation unit 420 of FIG. 4 mayallocate a channel according to the determined communication devicetype, which will be described by referring to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is an example of a diagram illustrating allocating a channel.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the channel allocation unit 420 of FIG. 4 mayallocate a first channel which is identical to a channel allocated to afixed communication device 1 when a communication device is a fixedcommunication device N, when the communication device has the fixedcommunication device 1 as a neighboring communication device, and whenthe communication device does not have a neighboring communicationdevice where a number of hops exceeds two.

Also, the channel allocation unit 420 may allocate any one of the firstchannel and a sixth channel, from among channels allocated to theneighboring communication device 1 and a neighboring communicationdevice 4 when a communication device is the fixed communication device Nand when the communication device has the fixed communication device 1and the fixed communication device 4 as neighboring devices where anumber of hops exceeds two.

One general aspect of the allocation of the channel may provide that thechannel allocation unit 420 may allocate any one of channels which areallocated to the neighboring communication devices since the switchingcommunication devices may switch channels among a plurality of channels.

Consequently, the message generation unit 410 of FIG. 4 may generate aHELLO message which includes the determined communication device typeand allocated channels in operation S550, and transmit the generatedHELLO message to the neighboring communication devices in operationS560. The generating of the HELLO message will be described by referringto FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is an example of a first diagram illustrating a generation of aHELLO message.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the message generation unit 410 of FIG. 4 maygenerate a HELLO message including an ID, a communication device type,an allocated channel, and IDs of fixed communication devices within arange of two hops and allocated channels when the communication devicetype is a fixed communication device.

When communication devices 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are fixed communicationdevices, and when communication devices 2, 4, 6, and 8 are switchingcommunication devices, the communication device 1 may generate the HELLOmessage including own ID 1, a fixed communication device, the firstchannel, and an ID 3 of the fixed communication devices within a rangeof two hops and the allocated second channel, an ID 5 and the allocatedthird channel, and an ID 7 and the allocated fourth channel.

FIG. 11 is an example of a second diagram illustrating the generation ofthe HELLO message.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the message generation unit 410 of FIG. 4 maygenerate a HELLO message including an ID, a communication device type,and IDs of neighboring communication devices within a range of a singlehop and allocated channels when the communication device type is aswitching communication device.

When communication devices 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are fixed communicationdevices, and when communication devices 2, 4, 6, and 8 are switchingcommunication devices, the communication device 6 may generate the HELLOmessage including the communication device 6's own ID 6, informationthat the communication device 6 is a switching communication device, andthe ID's of the fixed communication devices within range of a single hopand their allocated channels, i.e. an ID 3 and the allocated secondchannel, an ID 5 and the allocated third channel, and an ID 9 and theallocated fifth channel.

Also, the above-described communication devices in the wireless meshnetwork may broadcast a data packet.

A fixed communication device overhears channels of neighboringcommunication devices to broadcast the data packet. The fixedcommunication device may transmit the data packet to a switchingcommunication device whose channel is switched to a channel of the fixedcommunication device when channels of the neighboring switchingcommunication devices are switched to the channel of the fixedcommunication device.

The switching communication device may switch its channel to a channelof neighboring fixed communication devices, and transmit a data packetto the channels of the neighboring fixed communication devices tobroadcast the data packet.

One general aspect of the broadcasting of the data packet may providethat the switching communication device may switch a plurality ofchannels according to a Round-Robin manner. The switching communicationdevice may determine a switching time, and switch the plurality ofchannels after transmitting/receiving the data packet within a range ofa maximum time T_(max). Also, the switching communication device mayswitch the plurality of channels after at least the maximum time T_(max)passes.

The channel allocation method according to the above-described generalaspects may be recorded in computer-readable media including programinstructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. Themedia may also include, alone or in combination with the programinstructions, data files, data structures, and the like. Examples ofcomputer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks,floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks andDVD; magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devicesthat are specially configured to store and perform program instructions,such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flashmemory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include bothmachine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containinghigher level code that may be executed by the computer using aninterpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act asone or more software modules in order to perform the operations of theabove-described general aspects.

According to general aspects, it is possible to effectively enhance anefficiency of a network using multi-channels by classifyingcommunication devices having a single interface into a fixedcommunication device and a switching communication device according to acommunication device type, and by allocating a channel according to theclassified communication device type.

While general aspects are has shown and described, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A channel allocation method, comprising: determining a communication device type from a plurality of communication device types based on information received from neighboring communication devices, the plurality of communication device types including a fixed communication device fixed on a single channel and a switching communication device capable of switching channels, the communication device type being determined as the fixed communication device when a fixed communication device does not exist among the neighboring communication devices; allocating a channel according to the communication device type; and transmitting the communication device type and information about the allocated channel to the neighboring communication devices.
 2. The channel allocation method of claim 1, wherein, in the fixed communication device, wireless connectivity is guaranteed with another fixed communication device where a common channel is allocated, or with a switching communication device where a common channel is allocated.
 3. The channel allocation method of claim 1, wherein the switching communication device transmits a message to the neighboring communication devices when the channels are switched, the message informing the neighboring communication devices that the channels are switched.
 4. The channel allocation method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the information about the determined communication device type to the neighboring communication devices comprises: generating a HELLO message including the determined communication device type and the allocated channel; and transmitting the generated HELLO message to the neighboring communication devices.
 5. The channel allocation method of claim 4, wherein the generating of the HELLO message comprises: generating the HELLO message which includes an ID, a communication device type, an allocated channel, and IDs of the fixed communication devices within a range of two hops and allocated channels when the communication device type corresponds to a fixed communication device.
 6. The channel allocation method of claim 4, wherein the generating of the HELLO message comprises: generating the HELLO message including an ID, a communication device type, an allocated channel, and IDs of fixed communication devices within a range of a single hop and allocated channels when the communication device type corresponds to the switching communication device.
 7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that controls a type determination unit, a channel allocation unit, and a transmitting/receiving unit, the medium comprising: a first set of instructions that controls the type determination unit to determine a communication device type from a plurality of communication device types based on information received from neighboring communication devices, the communication device type being determined as a fixed communication device when a fixed communication device does not exist among the neighboring communication devices; a second set of instructions that controls the channel allocation unit to allocate a channel according to the communication device type; and a third set of instructions that controls the transmitting/receiving unit to transmit the communication device type and information about the allocated channel to the neighboring communication devices, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third set of instructions is executed by a processor.
 8. A communication device, comprising: a type determination unit that determines a communication device type from a plurality of communication device types based on information received from neighboring communication devices, the plurality of communication devices comprising: a fixed communication device fixed on a single channel, the type determination unit further determining the communication device type to be the fixed communication device when a fixed communication device does not exist among the neighboring communication devices; and a switching communication device capable of switching channels among a plurality of channels; a channel allocation unit that allocates a channel according to the determined communication device type; and a transmitting/receiving unit that transmits information about the determined communication device type and the allocated channel to the neighboring communication devices.
 9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein, in the fixed communication device, wireless connectivity is guaranteed with another fixed communication device where a common channel is allocated, or with a switching communication devices where a common channel is allocated.
 10. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the switching communication device transmits a message to the neighboring communication devices when the channels are switched, the message informing the neighboring communication devices that the channels are switched.
 11. The communication device of claim 8, further comprising: a message generation unit that generates a HELLO message including the determined communication device type and the allocated channel and transmits the generated HELLO message to the neighboring communication devices.
 12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the message generation unit generates the HELLO message which includes an ID, a communication device type, an allocated channel, and an ID of the fixed communication devices within a range of two hops, and an allocated channel when the communication device type corresponds to a fixed communication device.
 13. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the message generation unit generates the HELLO message including an ID, a communication device type, an allocated channel, and an ID of the fixed communication devices within a range of a single hop and an allocated channel when communication device type corresponds to a switching communication device. 